Unbearable, Paul Jennings

It’s a pretty rare thing for me to read to or even with my eldest child, one-on-one. I mean I’ve probably only done a handful of readers with him this year because a) he never changes the books, and b) I just don’t have the time to read to someone who can read to themselves.

It was so lovely to have a chance last night to sit and read to my big boy, and I think he liked it too. We read a short story from the Paul Jennings’ set he is making his way through and I have only good things to say about it.

The story was called ‘Grandad’s Gifts’ and it was a very mild horror story about a child who moves into a new bedroom with a forbidden cupboard. I think it’s really great for the under-10 crowd. A great balance: too unrealistic to be legitimately scary, but enough suspense and a great ending to thrill.

People who grew up in the 90’s in Australia have no-doubt heard of and read Paul Jennings, or they may have unknowingly been exposed to his stories through the popular after school TV program ‘Round the Twist’. His stories have a somewhat timeless feel, especially given the supernatural themes, and are entertaining the next generation of young Aussie readers.